We are bringing back one of our favorite ongoing blog series in 2017 – our top three videos of the month! In our first post for this series this year, we are featuring three videos you know you’ll never forget.

From a sweet 27 your old quadriplegic named after China Wilson from Wilson Phillips to vent-dependent quads going bowling, we know these videos are some of the best new SCI videos to hit the web. Enjoy!

Video #1: “Intro: my spinal cord injury life!”

“I just really want people to see what it’s like,” says China Dixon, a 27 year old C4-5 quadriplegic from Nebraska, in her first video blog introducing herself to the world. Even though she was injured 12 years ago in a car accident, she’s new to video blogging and is super excited to motivate others with spinal cord injuries via her videos.

In her video, she shares her injury story, especially since the video was recorded on the evening of her injury anniversary. She also talks about how hard it was going back to school her sophomore year. “There is no manual for that. They looked at me and I looked at them, and neither us knew what to say.” She also talks about her hopes and dreams and how far she’s come in the 12 years since. We hope to see more videos from this strong lady!

Video #2: Sexuality and Disability: Forging Identity in a World that Leaves You Out | Gaelynn Lea | TEDxYale

Gaelynn Lea is a powerchair-user from a congenital disability (osteogenesis imperfecta; a brittle bone condition that causes twisted limbs). And she’s also arising star in the music world. She plays the fiddle and performs folk music all over the world. While she doesn’t have a spinal cord injury, her video is incredibly relate-able to people with spinal cord injuries.

She speaks about the unattainable beauty culture that exists in America, and especially how it’s impossible for people with disabilities to compete. “As a little girl I knew I couldn’t achieve this model. No makeup or clothes could make me look like the tall thin blond I was supposed to look like.” Gaelynn Lea eventually found her confidence, and then a husband. Many people with spinal cord injuries find themselves on the same journey, hopefully with a happy ending.

Bowling is one of the most popular sports people with high levels of quadriplegia like to play, and don’t think for a second think its boring just because two guys who can’t move their arms are playing. In this video made by Jesse Collens, a C1 vent-dependent quadriplegic from Seattle, he demos IKAN, bowling equipment that allows him and his friend to push their balls down a nifty portable ramp (using mouse sticks).

Unbelievably, Jesse gets a spare on his first down the ‘ol ramp. An awesome vlogger sharing real life with on a ventilator, Jesse shows that with practice, bowling this way can be quite fun, and fin for those watching too.

Back in the day late at night in my dark bedroom, my only solace used to be the light coming from my TV and Talk Sex with Sue Johanson, Canada’s awesome informational sex show hosted by Sue, a lovable retired nurse. Canada has always seemed to produce the best sex shows (anyone remember Bliss?) so I was thrilled when I saw this in the Dating & Sexuality section of SPINALpedia. A few years back she did a review of the IntimateRider, the movable chair that gives men with spinal cord injuries more position options in the bedroom. Watching Sue talk about an adapted sexuality tool in all her Canadian glory made me squee beyond repair.

I’ve known quite a few guys with spinal cord injuries who’ve loved their Intimate Rider, including my friend Bill who’s in this video, talking about how the chair has improved their sex life. He loves the thing! Every guy with a SCI needs to “get back into the swing of things” after their injury if you know what I mean, and this chair makes that happen. There is no other tool I can think of that brings this level of sexual independence to SCI men. Naturally, Sue loved the thing, and she even gave it 4 flaming hot briquettes on her “Hibachi of Love” scale (so you know it’s good).

In regards to having sex after a big life-changing injury, Gary Karp is an expert. He’s a paraplegic and psychologist who specializes in spinal cord injury sexuality and he’s done an entire series of disability videos on sexuality. My personal favorite is his video on guilt and able-bodied partners feeling guilty for having full sensation. Sometimes, when a person with a disability begins a relationship with someone new and their partner is able-bodied, if’s not uncommon for them to sometimes feel guilty, thinking they’re getting more out of it then the person with the disability is…

But if you watch Gary’s 2 minute video you’ll see how he quite beautifully explains how feeling guilty is silly. He says it’s OK to feel that way, but hopefully they’ll see that satisfaction can still be achieved. He also talks about how the person with a disability needs to restructure their top 10 must have’s in bed to figure out what they now enjoy the most after their injury. It you’ve ever wanted to know more about mutual satisfaction when one counterpart is disabled, then this video is a must see.